Texas defines nuisance wildlife as animals that pose a threat to humans, cause damage to your home or property, or become annoying. We have raccoons, snakes, opossums, skunks, rodents, rabbits, squirrels, bats, and many other nuisance wildlife in Dallas. You may think you can handle nuisance wildlife and that you can get rid of them yourself. Before you do, check out the Texas laws regarding removal and relocation.
If an animal is a high risk for carrying a disease, transporting it is a class C misdemeanor in Texas. Plus, capturing and handling nuisance wildlife can be dangerous and gross. At Critter Control, we use a process that follows Texas laws and is safe for you and the animal. We provide inspection, removal, and repairs. Below are examples of how we’ve handled Texas wildlife in the past.
The rats trying to live in your Dallas home are either the Norway rat or the roof rat, also known as the black rat. The house mouse is also a common unwanted resident that sneaks out at night to gather food and nesting materials. You may not ever see rodents on your property, but the signs they leave behind are evidence of their destructive behaviors.
Rats like to create burrows in your yard and will gnaw just about anything, including wires, siding, pipes, garden hoses, and any wood. Mice inside your home will chew holes in your cabinets to get to your pantry foods, baseboards, vents, screens, and anything they need to survive.
Mice can fit through a hole the size of a quarter, and rats can fit through a hole the size of a golf ball. Holes you may never notice are entry points for rodents that carry diseases. We can help eliminate your rodent problem. Because rats and mice multiply often, the sooner you call, the better.
During a rodent inspection, we thoroughly inspect your attic and provide a complete exterior home inspection. The most common signs of rodent activity are gnaw marks, feces, rub marks, nesting material, runs in insulation material, and small entry points.
Raccoons in Dallas are nocturnal bandits that roam the neighborhoods tipping over trash cans and scattering garbage with their nimble, human-like hands. They can travel up to six miles and create multiple nesting spots to rest. Sure, they’re cute but also very destructive. They can open dumpsters searching for food scraps, dig holes in your yard searching for insects, raid your garden for fruits and vegetables, and climb up your chimney and into your home when it’s time to sleep.
Once in your home, raccoons can shred drywall, chew through wires, scratch flooring, and use insulation to create a nest. If they decide to build a nest in your chimney or vents, you are at risk for fire hazards. When Critter Control is called for raccoon removal, we show up prepared.
During the inspection, we determine the severity of the raccoon infestation. We look for physical evidence like footprints in or around the home, stains from raccoon feces and urine. On the exterior of the house, we look for damage like scratches on boards, broken vents and screens, ripped apart shingles, destroyed soffits, and every possible entry point.
Squirrels in Texas that are common to Dallas neighborhoods include the ground, flying, and tree squirrel varieties. Squirrel watching is an activity in Texas because squirrels are everywhere. They are busy, too, searching for foods they love, like nuts, seeds, grains, bird eggs, fruits, vegetables, and some bark.
Squirrels spend most of their time collecting foods to store for winter months and nest-building materials. They carry their collections into your home via the chimney, vents, or small holes or cracks that seem insignificant.
Once in your home, squirrels will wreak havoc, making your attic their winter haven. Expect chewed wires, shredded insulation, and if you have sentimental objects not correctly stored, it could become part of their nest. To control a nuisance squirrel, here’s what we do.
Wildlife specialists look for signs such as chewing on, in, or around your home, small openings leading to the attic or the crawl space, droppings, and debris like nuts or nesting material. Beams, wires, pipes, and insulation may all show signs of damage from squirrels.
Opossums are more of a nuisance than a real danger. An opossum tends to live in woodland areas. However, this animal will visit the city to hunt for birds, mice, and insects (as ominvores they eat almost anything). Opossums will use attics, crawlspaces and the areas under sheds and porches as dens.
Exclusion work is usually the most effective method to keep opossums away, like sealing entry points to prevent entry to attics and crawl spaces. Securing potential food sources, like pet food and garbage also helps. Scare devices only provide temporary solutions.
Opossums can be found inside attics and basements or outside under decks and sheds. Common signs include unique paw prints and feces. Opossums are docile and usually easy to spot.
We have the most problems with rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, and opossums.
Summer is a season of building nests and preparing for fall, winter, and the next spring season. Fall, winter, and spring are seasons of elevated animal activity in homes.
Pathways in insulation, as well as tunnels, nests, feces and urine stains.
Keep property in good condition. Dilapidated properties have a tendency to have more animal entry points. Keeping trash and clutter cleaned out is essential to prevent animal shelter and the gathering of nesting material.
Homeowners should call Critter Control when animal issues are suspected or for simple peace of mind, as inspections are free.
